Visitors to northernmost Del Norte County will be welcomed by the towering statues of legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, near Klamath. In addition to mighty trees and canopies of forest, the Klamath River and Smith River recreational areas attract anglers worldwide. Crescent City, northern gateway to the Redwood National Park, boasts the oldest working lighthouse on the Pacific Coast, scenic excursions and restaurants. The revered Redwood National Park covers 110,000 acres of land and includes three State Parks, the world’s tallest tree, tide pools and the Roosevelt elk.

A vast portion of the park is located in Humboldt County, as is Avenue of the Giants, a 53km (33-mile) scenic route with hiking and picnicking. Along the coast is the 19th-century seaport of Eureka, and the Victorian village of Ferndale, the ‘Lost Coast’ and the King Range Wilderness. To the east is high mountain country, ideal for fishing and river rafting. Opportunities for recreation are as plentiful as the rivers that cut through this forested Shangri-La. At Arcata Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, guided nature walks and a visitors’ centre cater for nature-lovers and State parks abound: St. Patrick’s Point State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and Humboldt Lagoons State Park are among those worth visiting.

Mendocino County is a gateway to the wilder, more rugged regions of the North Coast. Ukiah is the county seat and the centre for yet another flourishing wine region. Nearby is Lake Mendocino, which attracts campers, boaters and anglers. On the coast is the seaport of Fort Bragg, now headquarters for 1885 ‘Skunk Train’ excursions through Redwood forests to Willits. At Willits, the Mendocino County Museum displays local historic exhibits. Nearby is the charming village of Mendocino, founded as an 1850s logging town and now a thriving artists’ colony. Sights here include Ford House, the 1854 home of Mendocino’s founder, with logging and Pomo Native American artifacts on display.

Moving inland from Mendocino, Lake County is the home of premium wines and an abundance of lakes. Clear Lake, with more than 160km (100 miles) of shoreline, is the largest natural freshwater lake in California. There are opportunities in Lake County for attending one of the many festivals as well as waterskiing, fishing, swimming, boating, bicycling, birdwatching and rock hounding.

Napa County, less than 80km (50 miles) northeast of San Francisco, is America’s best-known wine region. There are 200 wineries, many offering tours and tasting. The valley town of Calistoga is famous for its natural springs and attracts mud and mineral bath devotees year-round. There is a petrified forest here, with a museum and walking tour. At St Helena, the Silverado Museum displays memorabilia connected with the author Robert Louis Stevenson. For a bird’s eye view of the valley, adventurers can take to the sky in a hot-air balloon or a glider.

The hub of Sonoma County is Santa Rosa, with many visitor attractions and accommodations. Just south is the historic village of Sonoma, where a historic plaza is flanked by an 1823 Spanish mission. Nearby, the river city of Petaluma features stately Victorian-era homes and steamboat excursions, as well as over two dozen antique shops. On the outskirts is the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, once part of a sprawling ranchero. To the north is the coastal resort of Bodega Bay and historic Fort Ross, an 1812 Russian outpost.

Travel: Scenic and Heritage routes include Avenue of the Giants (Route 254), North Central Coast Heritage Corridor (Highway 1), Route 116, Smith River Scenic Byway (State Route 199), Tahoe-Pacific Heritage Corridor (Route 20, 101, 80 and 89), Trinity River Scenic Byway (Route 299), Valley of the Moon Highway (Route 12). Visitors to Napa County can fly to Oakland International Airport, which has quick access to the wine country.

Climate: Summers are very warm, with cool evenings, while the spring and autumn months are mild, with cool evenings. The winter ‘rainy season’ is gentle and occurs between December and February.

Shasta Cascade: The Shasta Cascade region, roughly the size of Ohio, contains some of California’s most breathtaking natural wonders. The ‘Three Shastas’ include the huge Shasta Dam (three times higher than the Niagara Falls), the beautiful Shasta Lake and the dramatic, snow-capped Mount Shasta (one of the nation’s tallest mountains). A visit to the region might well start at Red Bluff, gateway from the south and home of the annual Red Bluff Rodeo, one of the largest two-day rodeos in the western USA. Situated on the Sacramento River, Red Bluff also features the Kelly Griggs Museum, a Victorian showplace. Redding is the hub of the north State. This lively community is situated along the Sacramento River and features shops, restaurants and fine inns. Nearby, historic Shasta once contained over 3500 gold miners. Today, Whiskeytown Lake, very near Shasta, is popular for canoeing, fishing, sailing and other watersports. To the northwest lies the Trinity Alps area, the second-largest wilderness area in California, with over 55 lakes, mountain ridges and deep canyons.

High Sierra/Lake Tahoe: The Washoe Native Americans called it ‘The Lake in the Sky’, and, situated over 1800m (6000ft) above sea level in a stunning alpine setting, it is not hard to see why. Tahoe’s clear blue skies, snow-capped mountains and the area’s wide array of cultural and historical riches are among the great sightseeing pleasures of the world. The spectacular 115km (72-mile) drive around the rim of the lake affords splendid views of the basin. Lake cruises are also available. The Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II cruise from South Shore to Emerald Bay and feature glass bottoms, with views straight into the crystal clear waters. Tahoe’s astonishing scenery can also be enjoyed from above. At Heavenly Ski Resort, the Aerial Tram transports passengers to 600m (2000ft) over the Gunbarrel Ski Run to a summit where visitors can relax over a meal at the Monument Peak Restaurant. More astounding vistas are on offer at the southwest corner of the lake, where Emerald Bay State Park also features Tahoe’s only island, Fannette Island. Sights here include Vikingsholm, a 38-room Scandinavian-style castle, considered to be one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere and open for guided tours. On Route US50, the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum displays the area’s most comprehensive collection of early photos. Watersports enthusiasts are amply catered for. The lake is blessed with excellent beaches at Emerald Bay, Baldwin, Regan and Timber Cove, where boating, jet-skiing, para-sailing, scuba diving and wind surfing are popular activities. The site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, today Lake Tahoe has the largest concentration of stand-out skiing in the world. Sprawling across the California/Nevada border, the Heavenly Ski Resort has the highest elevation in the Tahoe basin. Other resorts are Kirkwood and Sierra at Tahoe.

Gambling has been popular ever since wealthy holidaymakers started flocking to Tahoe at the turn of the century and some of the biggest names in the casino industry are to be found around the southern shoreline.

Eastern & Western Slopes: Outstanding views of the Sierra Crest are possible from the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Other sights include Bodie, a preserved ghost town and Bishop, where the Bishop Creek Recreation Area offers camping, trout fishing, horse riding and boating. An hour’s drive from Yosemite is the Mammoth Lakes area, a major resort promising affordable accommodation, shops, sightseeing and fun activities, including the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park/Adventure Challenge Course. Over in the western slopes area, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are famed for their majestic forests of giant trees. Yosemite National Park contains the world’s best-known glacier-carved valley. All three parks feature dramatic cliffs, mountains, rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls.

Special Events: Jun Renaissance Festival, Lake Tahoe. Jul 4 Fireworks Display, Lake Tahoe. Dec Night of Lights, throughout the Mountains area.

Travel: Seven highways connect Lake Tahoe with major cities in California and Nevada. Amtrak offers rail services into Reno and Truckee (on the Lake’s north shore). At the South Lake Tahoe Airport, Trans World Express has direct daily flights from many cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Reno-Tahoe International Airport (96km/60 miles northeast of South Lake Tahoe) is served by 13 national airlines.

Climate: The sun shines 75 per cent of the year at Lake Tahoe. Summers are very warm with cool evenings, and winters are cold and crisp, with an average of 125 inches of snow at lake level.